--- title: ICES Blog | Brenda Padilla Ericksen (3) description: Brenda is the founder of GAP Academy, where J-1 and F-1 students gain the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to thrive in the USA. She provides cultural diversity and intercultural competence training for US exchange programs, sending organizations worldwide and personnel at multinational companies. Brenda has a Spanish Degree from Western Washington University and has been immersed in cultural diversity for over 30 years as a teacher, journalist and corporate trainer. She is from Seattle, Washington and has lived and worked in Spain for 30 years where she has raised four daughters. She is a former international student (Spain & Norway), host mother (Thailand, France, Austria & USA), and the mother of daughters who exchanged to France, Canada, USA, South Korea & Nepal. (3) --- [![ices@2x](https://blog.icesusa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/ICES_Logo_%20sm_wht.png?width=77&name=ICES_Logo_%20sm_wht.png)](https://www.icesusa.org/)   - [INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS](https://www.icesusa.org/international-student-exchange-programs/) - [HOST A STUDENT](https://www.icesusa.org/host-a-student-overview/) - [AMERICAN STUDENTS](https://www.icesusa.org/american-student-exchange-programs/) - [WORK WITH US](https://www.icesusa.org/student-exchange-careers-and-partnerships/) - [ABOUT US](https://www.icesusa.org/about-us-overview/) - [CONTACT US](https://www.icesusa.org/contact-ices/) - [BLOG](https://blog.icesusa.org) [Let's Talk](https://blog.icesusa.org/contact)subscribe ### I’d like to learn more about Campaign Creators! # Welcome to Our Blog, It's Good to See You Subscribe to our blog today! ### Pick a topic, any topic. - [Recent Posts](https://blog.icesusa.org) ## Brenda Padilla Ericksen ![Picture of Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) Brenda is the founder of GAP Academy, where J-1 and F-1 students gain the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to thrive in the USA. She provides cultural diversity and intercultural competence training for US exchange programs, sending organizations worldwide and personnel at multinational companies. Brenda has a Spanish Degree from Western Washington University and has been immersed in cultural diversity for over 30 years as a teacher, journalist and corporate trainer. She is from Seattle, Washington and has lived and worked in Spain for 30 years where she has raised four daughters. She is a former international student (Spain & Norway), host mother (Thailand, France, Austria & USA), and the mother of daughters who exchanged to France, Canada, USA, South Korea & Nepal. Find me on: ### Recent Posts ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On April 7, 2023 ## [What Surprises Students from Thailand in the USA?](https://blog.icesusa.org/what-surprises-students-from-thailand-in-the-usa) When a Thai student steps off the plane and into life in the USA, what is the first impression? We can learn just as much about... *( read )* ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On February 25, 2023 ## [What Surprises Students from Hong Kong?](https://blog.icesusa.org/what-surprises-students-from-hong-kong) [Students from Hong Kong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Hong_Kong) have a unique eastern-western point of view. So, what happens when they come to the USA? How do they see... *( read )* Tags: [Culture Shock](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/culture-shock), [Host an exchange student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-an-exchange-student), [Student Experience](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/student-experience), ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On December 9, 2022 ## [What Surprises Polish Students in the USA?](https://blog.icesusa.org/what-surprises-polish-students-in-the-usa) What can Polish students teach us about our [American culture?](https://blog.icesusa.org/americans-do-the-strangest-things) Plenty! What surprises them? What are their own particular [culture...](https://blog.icesusa.org/culture-shock-whats-bugging-you) *( read )* Tags: [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [Exchange Student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/exchange-student), [Host an exchange student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-an-exchange-student), ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On November 2, 2022 ## [What Surprises Brazilians in the USA?](https://blog.icesusa.org/what-surprises-brazilians-in-the-usa) What do Brazilians notice when they come to live and study in the United States? *( read )* Tags: [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On October 14, 2022 ## [What surprises German students in the USA?](https://blog.icesusa.org/what-surprises-german-students-in-the-usa) What does the USA look like through [German eyes?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Germany) *( read )* ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On September 23, 2022 ## [Listen Like a Detective!](https://blog.icesusa.org/listen-like-a-detective) Your exchange student has arrived – finally! And it’s so much fun to host until…Wham! Culture shock hits. And your sweet student... *( read )* ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On July 15, 2022 ## [10 Culture Shocks in the USA](https://blog.icesusa.org/10-culture-shocks-in-the-usa) Exchange students bring magic glasses with them to the USA. Let’s look through their lenses for fresh perspectives on ordinary... *( read )* Tags: [Culture Shock](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/culture-shock) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On January 14, 2022 ## [Hosting an Exchange Student Gluten-Free](https://blog.icesusa.org/hosting-an-exchange-student-gluten-free) Is it difficult to host an exchange student on a [gluten-free diet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gluten-free_diet)?  *( read )* Tags: [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families), [Host an exchange student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-an-exchange-student), [Gluten-Free](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/gluten-free) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On December 17, 2021 ## [How to Have an International Christmas!](https://blog.icesusa.org/how-to-have-an-international-christmas) Hosting an exchange student transforms Christmas into an international event. What could be more fun than sharing your Christmas... *( read )* Tags: [Exchange Student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/exchange-student), [Holidays](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/holidays), [Host an exchange student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-an-exchange-student), ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On October 29, 2021 ## [Take Two: Hosting after a Storm](https://blog.icesusa.org/take-two-hosting-after-a-storm) A few years ago, the Browns' first exchange student literally stormed out of their home, leaving them heartbroken. Fortunately,... *( read )* Tags: [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families), [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On October 14, 2021 ## [10 Reasons to Limit Contact with Home](https://blog.icesusa.org/10-reasons-to-limit-contact-with-home) It seems cruel to [limit a foreign teenager's contact with family and friends back home](https://blog.icesusa.org/how-often-should-my-exchange-student-contact-home). Why on earth would anyone suggest such a... *( read )* Tags: [Culture Shock](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/culture-shock), [Youth Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/youth-exchange), [cultural understanding](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-understanding), ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On September 21, 2021 ## [How to express appreciation in the USA](https://blog.icesusa.org/how-to-express-appreciation-in-the-usa) Do you want your host family to adore you? Then this post is for you! *( read )* Tags: [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [American values](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/american-values), [Gratitude in the USA](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/gratitude-in-the-usa) [VIEW MORE](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen/page/4) ### Posts by Tag - [Cultural Exchange (141)](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange) - [Exchange Student (106)](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/exchange-student) - [Host Families (97)](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families) - [Host an exchange student (78)](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-an-exchange-student) - [Youth Exchange (68)](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/youth-exchange) ## Subscribe to Our Blog Today! ![Boris\_ICES\_Ads](https://blog.icesusa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Boris_ICES_Ads.png?width=749&height=698&name=Boris_ICES_Ads.png) - [INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS](https://www.icesusa.org/international-student-exchange-programs/) - [HOST A STUDENT](https://www.icesusa.org/host-a-student-overview/) - [AMERICAN STUDENTS](https://www.icesusa.org/american-student-exchange-programs/) - [WORK WITH US](https://www.icesusa.org/student-exchange-careers-and-partnerships/) - [ABOUT US](https://www.icesusa.org/about-us-overview/) - [CONTACT US](https://www.icesusa.org/contact-ices/) - [BLOG](https://blog.icesusa.org/) © 2019 ICES - INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL EXCHANGE SERVICES - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.